Buckle.



Nn. 665.799. Patented 1an. Ism.

a, w. roman, 1n. BUCKLE.

(Application Bled Hay 5, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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nu: nonms Puras ca.. wom-Layne., wAsmm-non n c GEORGE W. POTTER, JR.,

OF FAYETTE, MISSOURI.

BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 665,799, dated January 8, 1901. Application filed May 5, 1899. Serial No. 715,690. (N0 model.)

To f/,ZZ 1:;7110'177! .it 773m/ concern:

Betknown that LGEORGE W. POTTER, Jr., residing at Fayette, in the county of Howard and State of Missouri, have made certain new and useful lm provenientsin Buckles,of which the following is a speciication.

Myinvention is an improvement in buckles for use on harness, being in the nature of a tug-buckle and trace-carrier combined; and the invention consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of the invention as in use. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the buckle, the straps being removed. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the buckle. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional View on about line i Ll of Fig. 3, and Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views.

The buckle, as shown, is formed with the base-plate A and the top plate B. The baseplate A is provided at A 'with a seat for the point of the tongue on the plate B, and this seat A is preferably in the form of a socket formed inthe outer side of the base-plate, so the base-plate will protect the tongue from perspiration when the buckle is in use and so prevent the rusting of the tongue and the consequent sticking of the tongue in the holes in the tug and the rotting of the tug by the rusty tongue. This seat A may project beyond the inner face of the base-plate, as shown in Fig. 4; but this is not necessary.

Atits front end the plate A is provided with a loop A2 for the haine-strap, and loops A3 and Al are provided at the upper and lower edges of the plate A for the connection of the harness-straps, as will be understood from Fig. l. The lowerloop A*L and the front loop A2 are each provided with a slot O for theinsertion of the harness-straps, and lugs O' are arranged to extend over this slot and have studs O2, which pass through perforations O3 and are riveted when the plates O4 are bent back, thus forming means for closing the slot O when the strap has been inserted. The

base-plate A is also provided with lugs D, which project up alongside the plate B and are provid ed near their upper ends with openings D', which are entered by the studs on the latch-bars mounted on the plate B and presently described.

The .top plate B is connected at its front and rear ends with the base-plate A by means of the swinging loops E and E', which are pivoted at their inner and outer ends, respectively, to the base and top plates, so the top plate can swing back and fo'rth over the baseplate and so it will be drawn back by the pressure on the tug when the tongue of the top plate is forced into one of the openings of the tug in the operation of the buckle. On the outer side of the top plate B, 1 provide the latches F, which are pivoted at F', are provided at their free ends with the lateral studs F2 to enter the openings D of the lugs D, and are actuated outward into engagement with such lugs by the spring F3, as shown in the drawings.

In the operation of the buckle it is suitably secured to the strap leading back from the haines and is supported by the back-strap of the harness. The tug can be inserted between the top and base plates,and the tongue of the top plate is inserted in the proper one of the holes of the tug, this operation requiring the swinging of the top plate backward and' down upon the tug and forcing the point of the tongue into engagement with the baseplate. When the top plate has been adjusted to this position, the studs on the latches will automatically engage with the lugs D, projecting from the base-plate, and will lock the top plate, so the buckle cannot jar loose or the tug become otherwise accidentally released from the buckle. When it is desired to release the tug, it is only necessary to release the latches and swing the top plate up to free its tongue from the tu'g, when the latter can be readily withdrawn.

It will be noticed that the back plate or top plate B rests liat upon the tug and tends to prevent the splitting of the tug by the tongue; also, that the buckling or unbuckling of the tug is effected without requiring any bending of the tug, so the buckle can be readily changed from eye to eye of the tug. The buckle is also selfadjusting to the diterent thicknesses of the tugs, and the strain on the tug tends to close the buckle and increase the hold of same.

IOO

By avoiding any bending of the tug in buckling and unbuckling I avoid the cracking of the leather incident to such bending, as well as the breaking of the stitches, which frequently results from the frequent bending of tugs when used with the ordinary buckles.

Having thus described inyinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A buckle comprising the base-plate having a seat for the point of a tongue and having at its upper lower and front edges, loops for connection with the harness-straps and having the front and lower loops provided with slot-s for the insertion of the harnessstraps and with means for closing such slots, the top plate, the swinging loops connecting the top and base plates, the tongue on the under side of the top plate, lugson the baseplate projecting alongside the top plate, and latches on the top plate and arranged to engage the said lugs on the base-plate and lock the buckle substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the base-plate, the top plate having the tongue, and connections between the top and base plates whereby the top plate can swing toward and from the baseplate, the lugs on the base-plate and projecting alongside the top plate, and the latch de- Vices on the top plate and engaging said lugs whereby to lock the buckle substantially as set forth.

GEORGE W. POTTER, JR.

Witnesses:

SoLoN C. KEMON, PERRY B. TURPIN. 

